Drogba denies Tigers victory

Didier Drogba celebrated his return from African Nations Cup duty by notching his 20th goal of the season to spare Chelsea's blushes in a 1-1 draw with lowly Hull.

All eyes were, inevitably, on John Terry in his second match since allegations over his private life entered the public domain but it was Hull centre-back Steven Mouyokolo who grabbed the limelight by heading the Barclays Premier League strugglers in front.

Drogba, in his first Blues match for a month, snared a point for the table-toppers when he drilled home a contested free-kick just before the interval.

In the ninth minute Frank Lampard had the first chance of the match, capping a nice passing move with a swerving shot at goal. Boaz Myhill could only parry it to Nicolas Anelka 10 yards out but the Frenchman fluffed his finish.

Chelsea should have taken the lead 25 minutes in when Deco's crossfield ball set Branislav Ivanovic free on the right and he arrowed a cross into the Hull area. Michael Ballack timed his run perfectly but headed tamely and straight at Myhill from close range.

It was no great surprise when Mouyokolo outjumped a number of Chelsea defenders to head home Stephen Hunt's 29th-minute corner.

But three minutes before the break, Drogba lashed home the equaliser with a disputed free-kick from just outside the penalty area.

Anthony Gardner missed a glorious chance to restore the lead before the break when he headed Tom Cairney's flighted free-kick over from just a couple of yards.

Ivanovic forced another parried save from Myhill in the 50th minute and Lampard skied the rebound over.

Drogba was off target in the 77th minute, heading over Ivanovic's curling delivery and Myhill ensured the Tigers held on to a valuable point as he stretched to save Daniel Sturridge's late strike.